MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Physics
Physics 8.01

Fall 2012

Problem Set 3: Applications of Newtons Second Law Circular Motion

Problem 1

A heavy pendulum bob is swinging back and forth when the string supporting it suddenly
breaks. Ignoring the mass of the string and air friction, sketch the path of motion of the
bob until it hits the ground, if the break occurs when the bob is (i) at its highest point P
(ii) at its lowest point Q and moving towards the highest point P. Explain your answer.
Solution:
(i) The bob has zero velocity at point P and so will fall directly to the ground, with
constant acceleration of magnitude g .

(ii) The bob has only a horizontal component of velocity at point Q and so will follow a
parabolic path to the ground.

Problem 2
A ring of mass mr hangs from a thread,
and two identical beads of mass mb slide
on it without friction. The beads are
released simultaneously from the top of
the ring and slide down opposite sides.
When the beads reach a certain angle !
the ring begins to move upward.
a) Draw free-body force diagrams on the ring and on one bead for the following two
positions (i) when the beads are just released at the top of the ring, (ii) just before
the beads touch at the bottom of the ring, (iii) when the beads have reached the
angle traveled ! = " / 2 .
b) In each of the three positions in part a), is the normal force on the bead due to the
contact between the bead and the ring pointing radially inward or radially
outward?
c) Based on your answer to part b), do you think the normal force will be zero at an
angle between
(1) 0 < ! < " / 2 .
(2) ! < " / 2 < " .
(3) it will never be zero.
Explain your reasoning.

Solution:
a) Given that there is no friction, the contact force between the ring and either bead
must be normal to the ring. Denote the radial normal force that the ring exerts on
either bead as N r ,b . As the bead moves around the ring, the contact between the
bead and the ring switches from one side of the bead to the other as shown in the
free body force diagrams in the figures below for ! = 0 , ! = " / 2 , and ! = " .

b) When ! = 0 , the contact force N r ,b points in the positive r -direction which in

this case is the vertically upward direction. When ! = " / 2 , N r ,b must point in
the negative r -direction because the gravity force points downward and there
must be an inward force to change the direction of the velocity of the bead as it
undergoes circular motion. When ! = " , the contact force points upwards again
which is now in the negative r -direction.
c) Between 0 < ! < " / 2 , the normal forces on the bead switches direction and
therefore for some angle between 0 < ! < " / 2 , the normal force must be zero. As
you can see in the free body force diagram below, at that angle the gravitational
force has a inward component necessary to ensure circular motion.

Problem 3: A person, abandoned on a small spherical asteroid of mass m1 and radius R ,

sees a satellite orbiting the asteroid in a circular orbit of period T .
a) What is the radius rsat of the satellites orbit?
b) What is the magnitude of the velocity of the satellite?
c) If the asteroid rotates with a period Ta , at what radius must the satellite orbit the asteroid
so that the satellite appears stationary to a person on the asteroid.?
Solution:
a) The only force on the satellite is the gravitation force pointing radially inward. The force
diagram on the satellite is given in the figure below, with the satellites mass denoted m2 .

Newtons Second Law in the radial direction is given by

r : ! G

m1 m2
rsat 2

= !m2 rsat (2" / T )2 .

(1)

We can solve Equation (1) for the radius of orbit of the satellite,
" m T2%
rsat = $ G 1 2 '
# 4! &

1/ 3

(2)

b) The magnitude of the velocity of the satellite is

# m T2&
v = rsat! = rsat (2" / T ) = % G 1 2 (
$ 4" '

1/ 3

2" # m1 2" &

= G
T %$
T ('

1/ 3

(3)

c) In order for the satellite to appear stationary to an observer on the satellite, the satellite
must orbit with the same rotational asteroid as the asteroid. Thus we can substitute T = Ta
in Equation (2) and find that the radius of the orbit must be
" m T 2%
rsat = $ G 1 2a '
# 4! &

1/ 3

(4)

Problem 4: A person swings a ball of mass m in a circle of radius R in a vertical plane

by means of a massless string. Assume that the speed of the ball is constant and it makes
one revolution every t0 seconds.

a) Find an expression for the radial component of the tension in the string T (! ) as a
function of the angle ! the ball makes with the vertical. Express your answer in
terms of some combination of the parameters m , R , t0 and the gravitational
constant g .
b) Is there a range of values of t0 for which this type of circular motion cannot be
maintained? If so, what is that range?
Solution:
a) The free body diagram is shown in the figure below.

!
!
Newtons second Law F = ma in the radially inward direction becomes
!Tr ! mg cos" = !mR# 2 .

Thus
Tr = mR! 2 " mg cos#

Because the angular speed ! = 2" / t0 , the magnitude of the radial component of the
tension in the string is

Tr = m(

4! 2 R
" g cos# )
t0 2

b) The magnitude of the radial component of the tension in the string Tr must
always be greater than zero. When ! / 2 " # " 3! / 2 , cos(! ) " 0 hence Tr > 0 .
For the range of angle 0 ! " < # / 2 and 3! / 2 " # < 2! , cos(! ) > 0 and so the
condition
Tr = m(

4! 2 R
" g cos# ) > 0
t0 2

implies that

2!

R
> t0 .
g cos"

At ! = 0 , where mg makes the maximum contribution to the required radially inward

directed force, cos(0) = 1 , for all other values of ! in the range of angle 0 < ! < " / 2 and
3! / 2 < " < 2! , cos(! ) < 1 Thus to maintain circular motion the period t0 must be less

than a critical value (t0 )c

t0 < (t0 )c = 2!

R
.
g

Problem 5
A bucket of water spins with angular
speed ! . What shape does the waters
surface assume. i.e. find an equation for
the surface of the water. Clearly show
your coordinate system, free body
diagram, and all relevant work.
Solution:
We choose cylindrical coordinates with the origin at the lowest point of the surface at
center of the bucket.

We shall analyze the forces acting on a small surface element of water of mass !m .
When the bucket starts spinning, the surface is flat and gradually builds up to an
equilibrium shape. First lets analyze the contact force of the rest of the water on the
surface element. When in equilibrium, unlike solids, the water cannot exert a static
tangential force to the surface otherwise the surface shape would deform. Therefore the
contact force on the surface element must be perpendicular to the surface. The other force
acting on the element is gravity and the free body force diagram on the surface element is
shown in the figure below.

Newtons Second Law in the k - direction is

N cos ! " #mg = 0 .

Newtons Second Law in the r -direction is:

! N sin " = !#mr$ 2 .

We can solve these two equations for the tangent of the angle at the point on the surface
with coordinates (r,! , z) .

tan ! =

r" 2
g

(1)

Because the surface is curved the angle ! is not constant but varies. However the slope
of the tangent line to the surface is equal to tan ! and therefore

tan ! =

dz
dr

(2)

(Note that by circular symmetry, we are only considered with the (r, z) coordinates of the
surface element.) So combining Eqs. (1) and (2) yields

dz r! 2
=
.
dr
g

(3)

We can separate and integrate Eq. (3) to find the equation of the surface z = f (r) , noting
that the limits of the two integrals must be consistently chosen:
z ! = z(r )

"

z ! =0

dz ! =

r!=r

#2
r ! dr !
g r !"=0

(4)

Integration yields the equation of the surface

z(r) =

!2 2
r .
2g

(5)

Problem 6
A simple pendulum consists of a
massless string of length l and a pointlike object of mass m attached to one
end. Suppose the string is fixed at the
other end and is initially pulled out at a
small angle ! 0 from the vertical and
released from rest. The gravitational
acceleration is g .
a) Draw a free-body force diagram for the point-like object. Use the unit vectors
associated with polar coordinates to determine the vector decomposition of
(r, !)
the forces acting in the r - and ! - directions.
b) Apply Newtons Second Law in the r - and ! - directions and then determine a
differential equation for d 2! / dt 2 in terms of l , ! , m and g as needed.
c) What is your differential equation if ! << 1 ? (Hint: use the small small-angle
approximation, sin ! ! ! ).
d) Show by taking two derivatives that the function

! (t) = Acos( g / l t) + Bsin( g / l t)

is a solution to your differential equation, where A and B are constant that we
will determine in part e).
e) Differentiate the function in part d), to determine an expression for the z d!
(t) .
component of the angular velocity
dt
f) According to the information given in the problem, what are your initial values
d!
(t = 0) ?
! (t = 0) and
dt
g) Set t = 0 in the functions in the expression for ! (t) from part d) and the

d!
(t) you determined in part e) and use the information you
dt
determined in part f), t determine an expression for the constants A and B .
expression for

Solution
The force diagram on the pendulum is shown below.

The only forces on the pendulum are the gravitational force on the pendulum bob (the
point-like object) and the tension in the string. A vector expression for the sum of the
forces in polar coordinates is then
!
! !
F = mg +T = ! mg sin " " + mg cos r ! Tr = (mg cos! T )r ! mg sin " "

(1)

Recall that a vector expression for the acceleration in polar coordinates is given by
2

# d" &
d 2"
!

a = !l % ( r + l 2 "
$ dt '
dt

(2)

Therefore Newtons Second Law in the r -direction becomes

# d" &
(mg cos! T ) = !ml % (
$ dt '

(3)

and in the ! -direction becomes

d 2"
dt 2

(4)

d 2!
g
= " sin ! .
2
l
dt

(5)

!mg sin " = ml

We can rewrite Equation (4) as

When the angle of oscillation is small, then we can use the small angle approximation
Then Eq. (5) becomes

sin ! " ! .

(6)

d 2!
g
=" !
2
l
dt

(7)

Consider the function

! (t) = Acos( g / l t) + Bsin( g / l t)

(8)

We differentiate this function we have an expression for the z -component of the angular
velocity.

d!
(t) = "( g / l ) Asin( g / l t) + ( g / l )Bcos( g / l t)
dt

(9)

If we take a second derivative we have an expression for the z -component of the angular
acceleration
d 2!
(t) = "(g / l) Acos( g / l t) " (g / l)Bsin( g / l t)
dt 2
We can rewrite the second derivative as

d 2!
(t) = "(g / l)( Acos( g / l t) + Bsin( g / l t)) = "(g / l)! (t)
dt 2

(10)

which is Eq. (7), so our function ! (t) = Acos( g / l t) + Bsin( g / l t) is a solution to

the small-angle differential equation. This equation is known as the simple harmonic
oscillator equation.
From the information given in the problem statement, the initial angle is ! (t = 0) = ! 0 and
because the object was released from rest ,

d!
(t = 0) = 0 .
dt

If we set t = 0 in ! (t) = Acos( g / l t) + Bsin( g / l t) , we have that

! (t = 0) = A and therefore A = ! 0 . If we set t = 0 into Eq. (9) we have that

d!
(t = 0) = g / l B and therefore B = 0 .
dt

Problem 7:
A conical pendulum is constructed from
a rope of length l and negligible mass,
which is suspended from a fixed pivot
attached to the ceiling. A small ball of
mass M is attached to the lower end of
the rope. The ball moves in a circle with
constant speed in the horizontal plane,
while the rope makes an angle ! with
respect to the vertical, as shown in the
diagram. Let g (where g > 0 ) denote
the acceleration of gravity.
a) Find the tension T in the rope and the period of the motion (that is, how long
does it take the ball to make one circle in the horizontal plane?). Explain your
plan for solving this problem. Include all graphs or diagrams that you intend to
use. Your answer should be expressed in terms of the given variables, l , M , ! ,
and g as needed.
b) Suppose that a horizontal rope is attached between the ball and a vertical shaft
that runs through the pivot, as shown in the diagram. The rope is massless and
inextensible, and is pivoted at the vertical shaft so that it can rotate as the ball
rotates, all with negligible friction. The horizontal rope has just the right length to
be taut when the upper rope is at an angle ! , as shown. When the ball is moving
at a constant speed v2 , find the tension T2 in the upper rope and the tension T3 in
the horizontal rope. You may express your answer in terms of any of the variables
l , M , ! , g , and v2 as needed. Explain your plan for solving this problem.
Include all graphs or diagrams that you intend to use.

Solution: We shall apply Newtons Second Law to the circular motion of the bob to find
the tension in the rope and period for the circular motion of the object. Choose cylindrical
coordinates as shown in the figure below. Note that we used the coordinates (r,! , z) and
k)
because the angle ! was already used for the angle
the associated unit vectors (r , !,
that the string makes with respect to the vertical axis.

The free body force diagram on the object is shown in the figure below.

Newtons Second Law in the k - direction is

T cos! " mg = 0 .
Therefore the tension in the rope is given by

T = mg / cos! .
Newtons Second Law in the r -direction is:
2
!T sin " = !ml sin " 4# 2 / Tperiod
.

Therefore the period is

Tperiod = 2! l cos" / g .
c) The free body force diagram on the object is now

Newtons Second Law in the k - direction is

T2 cos! " mg = 0 .

Therefore the tension in the upper rope is given by

T2 = mg / cos! .

Newtons Second Law in the r -direction is:

!T3 ! T2 sin " = !mv22 / l sin " .

Therefore the tension in the horizontal rope is

T3 =

mv22
" mg tan ! .
l sin !

Problem 8: Banked Turn

A car of mass m is going around a circular turn of radius R , which is banked at an angle
! with respect to the ground. Assume there is a coefficient of static friction s between
the wheels and the road. Let g be the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration. You
may neglect kinetic friction (that is, the cars tires do not slip). Derive an expression for
the range of possible speeds vmin ! v ! vmax necessary to keep the car moving in a circle
without slipping up or down the embanked turn. Express your answer in terms of the
given quantities.

Solution:
We will force consider the case when the car is traveling slow enough, ie. with minimum
speed v = vmin , such that it just starts to slip down the bank. Choose cylindrical
coordinates as shown in the figure below. Choose unit vectors r pointing in the radial
outward direction and k pointing upwards. The force diagram on the car is shown in the
figure below when the car is just about to slide down the embanked turn.

If v0 is the speed such that fstatic = 0 , then when vmin < v < v0 , the car would slide down
the banked turn if static friction did not hold it up. If v > v0 , the direction of the static
friction force would be down the track.
!
!
Newtons Second law, F = m a , becomes

r :
k :

m v2
r
N cos ! + fstatic sin ! " m g = m az
" N sin ! + fstatic cos ! = "

(1)
(2)

When v = vmin , the just-slipping condition is that the acceleration in the z -direction is
zero, and the static friction has its maximum value:
az = 0

(3)

fstatic = s N

(4)

and so the force equations (1) and (2) become

! N sin " + s N cos" = !m

vmin 2
r

(5)

N cos! + s N sin ! = m g

(6)

! sin " + s cos"

(7)

Dividing these equations yields

2
vmin
=!
cos" + s sin "
rg

which can then be solved for the minimum speed, vmin , necessary to avoid sliding down
the embanked turn.
1

vmin

# # sin ! " s cos! & & 2

= %r g%
((
$ $ cos! + s sin ! ' '

(8)

This result should be checked for the limiting values of s . In the limit s ! 0 ,

vmin ! rg , a previously-known result. In the limit s ! tan " , vmin ! 0 , which is the
static case of a block on an incline.
Now lets consider the case that the car is at the maximum speed such that it just starts to
slip up the inclined plane. Then the direction of static friction points down the incline
plane and the free body force diagram is shown in the figure below.

The analysis is identical to the previous case except for changing the signs of the
components of static friction. Thus Newtons Second Law becomes

m v2
r
N cos ! " fstatic sin ! " m g = m az
" N sin ! " fstatic cos ! = "

r :
k :

(9)
(10)

When v = vmax , the static friction has its maximum value given by Eq.(4), and so the
force equations now become

! N sin " ! s N cos" = !m

vmax 2
r

(11)

N cos! " s N sin ! = m g

(12)

! sin " ! s cos"

(13)

Dividing these equations yields

cos" ! s sin "

=!

2
vmax

rg

which can then be solved for the maximum speed, vmax , necessary to avoid sliding down
the embanked turn.
1

vmax

# # sin ! + s cos! & & 2

= %r g%
((
$ $ cos! " s sin ! ' '

(14)

The figure below shows a plot of v 2 / r g vs. when ! = 45! . The shaded area
represents the set of points ( ,v 2 / r g) where the car remains in a circular path. Above
that is the set of points in which the car will slid outward and below the set of points in
which the car will slide inward.